The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-11
ARIZoNA,s PLAINS.

Delegate Smith VIII Ask the Government To
Assist in the Work Of Irrigation
Special to the Indianapolis journal.
WASHINGTON. Dec 10-Delegate Smith, OF
Arizona, who has been returned to Congress-
after residence Of only six years in the Terri-
tory, il going to introduce a BILL the effect Of
which, if it is passed, will be OF infinite conse-
quencs not only to his Territory. which is, Of.
course, particularly interested in il, but to tho
enough money to pay the expenses of q hyoro-
graphic survey OF Arizona, with the purpose OF
fixing upon desirable places for the sinking ofs
artesan wells snd fer 81 sinking of one well al
an experiment.. The survey-yin aisa- rap0r1
upon the best means OF storing the surfacS
water in the Territory. In conversation with
your correspondent, to-day. Mr. Smith saida4
"There Is no doubt whatever that large quanti-.
ties of water exist beneath the surface of this
ground, more than sufficient to transform the
present arid wastes Of the Territory into ths
most productive lands. The land there is the
most fertile in the world, and would surpass the
famed valley of the Nile If the water could BE-
obtained for irrigating purposes. The govern
ment has been lavish in its expenditures on
rivers and harbors, and can build . dam from
one end of the Mississippi to the other to pref
vent the overflow Of its waters on the landS
Of the Mississippi valley. and now ] want
to see il it Can't appropriate some money fos
was there, Arizona could produce anything you
had mind to call for. The importation Of
tropical fruits would be unnecessary, for We
would produce them all The orange, tho
lemon, tho almond, the citron, the walnut, ths
grape, and all kinds of fruits and nuts grow
there in luxurance Put seed OF STRIPPING in
the ground there, and it will continue TO grow
without stopping all the year round. Why
believe it would be possible to grow beet al
large . house there If it was well sLpplied
with water. Now. there IS no doubs that thu
water 10 to be had it it is only sought for. In
recent earthquake which shook us up somewhat
down there, assure opened nj
in tho ground in Sulphur spring valley.
from which q solid wall of wate1
spurtei mp many yards high, and flooded the ems
tire va ley. 1t would have been flowing yet but
for another earthquake which came along and
stopped up the fssure. Now, that water can be
tapped again at greater or less depth, and BIZ
it millions of acres of land could be irrigated.
Our water fall is fully great that of thq
mississippi valley. and get it all withir
six eight weeks. July and August are onf
wet season. 1t comes too late to help as much in
seeding time. Il could. however. be preserved
very easily. For instance. with q dam across
the mouth OF ella river a natural reservoir four
teen miles long by three or four broad could bG
utilized. Mountains hem it in either side.
and from that reservoir millions of acres coal6
draw their irrigating supply. There are othe1
places where this could be done to similar ads
this part of the country, beginning with grade
ually sloping hills They tower mp 10 a Rreas
height immediately from the level plain. Here and
there canyons the bottoms of which are still level
with the plains. traverse these mountains. the
sides rising abruptly to the sky. The mouths Of
those canyons could be stopped mp without much
difficulty and there would be great reservois
receiving and retaining all the watershed OF thu
mountains The government should. in my
opinion, undertake this work, and it would be
much more than repaid by the enhanced price
which it would be able TO obtain FOR the lands
which would be made possible OF cultivation by
raAau6"